Auxiliary steam generator for steam pressing irons



Jan. 6, 1953 c. P. M CRACKEN ET AL 2,624,828

AUXILIARY STEAM GENERATOR FOR STEAM PRESSING IRONS Filed July 5, 1949 36 M-nmgulyi 37 48 jj/w COL LINS P. MGCRACK EN INVENTORS. 2 ERNEST L. CHRISMAN BY ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 6, 1953 AUXILIARY STEAM GENERATOR FOR STEAM PRESSING IRONS Collins P. McCracken, Inglewood, and Ernest L. Chrisman, South Gate, Calif.

Application July 5, 1949, Serial No. 103,122

1 9 Claims.

This invention relates to equipment for improving the operation of steam pressing irons and relates in particular to an auxiliary unit for preventing spotting of fabrics by steam condensates which often issue from the steam outlets of steam pressing irons.

Steam pressing irons are now extensively employed and their use, in many places, has im proved, simplified and expedited ironing and pressing practices. Their use avoids the necessity for dampening cloth by sprinkling prior to the ironing operation. Also, excess applicati'on of moisture to the cloth which is to be ironed, is to a great extent avoided. The drying out of excess moisture from previously dampened clothes recuires an expenditure of time and heat. Where steam irons are employed, only sufficient moisture is supplied. in the form of steam, to accomplish the desired smoothing of the cloth. This, accordingly, results in a much faster performance of ironing and pressing operations. Steam pressing irons, however, have a serious fau t which is corrected by the present invention. Water occasionally forms by condensation in steam passages and is carried through the steam outlets of the iron. These water drops, wh ch issue from the iron, will spot certain types of fabrics.

It is one obiect of the present invention to provide an electrically heated auxiliary steam generator for use with steam pressing irons of different tvpes. which auxi iary steam generator minimizes the condensation of steam in the irons. and substantiallv eliminates water spot ting. One type of steam pressing iron has in the body thereof a steam generator chamber which is adapted to receive water from an outside source and to vaporize this water into steam which is delivered throu h outlets in the bottom of the iron to the fabric being pressed. Another type of steam pressing iron is adapted to receive steam from the steam piping system of the establishment in which the iron is used. Our present invention provides an auxiliary steam generator which is mounted on or adiacent the ironing board and is connected in series in the source of water or steam supplied to the iron.

It is an object of the invention to provide an auxiliary steam generator for use with steam pressing irons, having a steam chamber with an inlet for connection to a supply of a ueous fluid, which aqueous fiuid may be either water or steam depending upon the conditions under which the device is used. Associated with the steam chamher is an electric heater operating under control of a. thermostat to produce in the steam chamber a temperature considerably above the boiling point of water. Under control of valve means the entry of the aqueous fluid into the steam chamber is regulated at the will of the user, and comparatively dry steam is fed from the steam generator to the steam pressing iron so that there is practically no liability of condensation of water in the steam iron.

It is an object of the invention to provide an auxiliary steam generator of simple and practical form, as will be hereinafter described in detail. The steam generator may be supplied in a form having its own water reservoir and means for feeding a controlled flow of water into the steam chamber.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification wherein the invention has been described in particular detail for the purpose of disclosure, without limiting the scope of the invention set forth in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing which is for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a vertically sectioned view showing a preferred embodiment of our invention; and

Fig. 2 is a partly sectioned view showing a form of the invention equipped with a water reservoir.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 includes a hollow body or shell I comprising a lower cvlindric portion H and. an up er cvlindric portion l2. In the lower part of the upper portion Hi there is a steam chamber l3. Above the chamber ii; there is an upwardly faced recess M, and below the chamber !3 there is a downwardly faced recess l5 separated from the chamber it! by a heat conductive wall [6. In the form of the invention shown the hollow body it is cast and the wall I5 has therein an opening I! which is filled by a. plug l8 after removal of the core which forms the steam chamber l3 in the casting operation.

By screws iii an electric heater 2%! is clamped against the lower face of the wall [6. The details of this electric heater are not shown since the specific construction thereof is not a part of the present invention. The electric heater 20 in keeping with the electric heating art has suitable heat generating resistance element or elements therein. Also, this electric heater 26 has secured to its lower face a thermostat 2| for control of the heat generated by the heater so as to maintain a temperature in the wall l6 and in the chamber I3 within a predetermined range. For energization of the heater 2!! an electric cord 22 is provided, such cord extending through an opening 23 in the lower portion of the shell and having the conductors 24 and 25 thereof connected to the heater and to the thermostat in the manner shown. In the ordinary use of the invention, the thermostat 2| is set so that the heater 2!? will maintain a temperature in the wall [5 of about 400 F. Any drops of water entering the chamber l3 are immediately vaporized. A valve 26 is connected to the upper part of the upper recess I l by use of a bushing 27, and so that the inlet 28 of the valve 26 communicates with the upper portion of the recess i i. The valve 25 has an outlet port 25 upwardly spaced from the inlet 28 and a vertical valve stem 30 is provided, this valve stem 3t having a poppet type closure 3! on its lower end. The upper portion of the valve stem 3i! extends through a stuifing box 32 and its upper end is equipped with a cap nut 33 which is engaged by a compression spring 3G acting to lift the valve stem 3&3 as as to hold the closure 3! in closed position. The valve 25 is provided with a lever 35 which may be hand operated, but which ordinarily is connected to a foot pedal so that the operation of the valve will not require use ofthe hand of the operator.

Theupper portion E2 of the hollow body Ill is provided with an inlet passage 35 for connection to conduit El which leads to a supply of aqueous fluid such as steam piping or a water supply. Ihe upper portion l2 of the body I!) is also provided with an inlet passage 33 for the steam chamber 13, and an outlet passage 39 for connecting the steam chamber l3 with flexible conduit so leading to the steam passages of the pressing iron. Duct means 4! connects the outlet 29 of the valve 26 with the inlet passage 38. This duct means includes a flow regulating valve n for controlling the rate of flow of fluid through the passage 33 when the valve closure 3| is moved .downward into open position. The steam chamber i3 is provided with splash preventing means flit consisting of a layer of noncorrosive filamentous material such as stainless steel wool. Therefore any water which may pass through theinlet passage 38 in liquid form is prevented from directly engaging the upper surface of the heated wall it and the possibility of droplets of water splashing into the outlet passage 39 is avoided.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, I employ the hollow body it having therein the steam chamber it with splash preventing means 4:3 lying on the upper face of the wall It and with the electrical heater 2B placed against the lower face of the wall it. However, I place the upper recess It in open communication with the chamber i3 and close the upper end of the recess 1 3 by use of a plug t5 which supports a water container 5%. An inlet passage 38' is provided for the steam chamber 13. This inlet passage 35 is connected through tubing 57 and a drip valve 28 with the lower part of the water container 35 which may be adjusted so as to produce a drop by drop how of water through the passage 38 into the steam chamber 13. An outlet passage 39' is provided for the steam chamber with fittings 39 at the outer end thereof for connection to a hose leading to the steam pressing iron which is provided with heated 4 chambers and passages intended for the vaporization of water directly within the iron so that steam will issue from the steam outlets in the bottom of the iron.

As previously explained herein, such steam pressing irons will issue drops of water along with the steam. This is avoided by the use of the herein disclosed auxiliary steam generator which feeds steam and a minimum of condensate to the steam generating chambers and passages of the steam iron, with the final result that only vapor issues from the steam outlets of the iron.

We claim:

1. In an auxiliary steam generator for use with steam pressing irons: a hollow body having an upper recess extending downwardly from the upper face thereof, a lower recess extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, a steam chamber between said recesses, an inlet passage for said upper recess for connection to a source of aqueous fluid, an inlet passage leading into' said steam chamber, and an outlet passage leading from said steam chamber for connection to a conduit adapted to convey steam to a steam pressing iron, there being a heat conductive wall between said steam chamber and said lower recess; an electric heater in said lower recess contiguous to said heat conductive wall to heat said wall and said steam chamber, said heater having a thermostat control; a valve having its inlet connected to said upper recess; walls forming a duct connecting the outlet of said valve to the, inlet passage of said steam chamber; and a,

layer of filamentous material in said steam chamber to prevent splashing of water dropsv in said chamber.

2. In an auxiliary steam generator for use with steam pressing irons; a hollow body having an upper recess extending downwardly from the upper face thereof, a lower recess extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, a steam chamber between said recesses, an inlet passage for said upper recess for connection to a source of aqueous fluid, an inlet passage leading into said steam chamber, and an outlet passage leading from said steam chamber for connection to a conduit adapted to convey steam to a steam pressing iron, there being a heat conductive Wall between said steam chamber and said lower recess; an electric heater in said lower recess contiguous to said heat conductive wall to heat said wall and said steam chamber, said heater having a thermostat control; a valve having its inlet con-. nected to said upper recess; and walls forming a duct connecting the outlet of said valve to the inlet passage of said steam chamber.

3. In an auxiliary steam generator for use with steam pressing irons: a hollow body having an upper recess xtending downwardly from the upper face thereof, a lower recess extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, a steam chamber between said recesses, an inlet passage for said upper recess for connection to a source of aqueous fluid, an inlet passage leading into said steam chamber, and an outlet passage leading from said steam chamber for connection to a conduit adapted to convey steam to a steam pressing iron, there being a heat conductive wall between said steam chamber and said lower recess; an electric heater in said lower recess contiguous to said heat conductive wall to heat said wall and said steam chamber, said heater having a thermostat control; a valve having its inlet connected to said upper recess; walls forming a duct connecting the outlet of said valve to the inlet passage of said steam chamber; and a flow rate regulating valve in said duct to control the flow of fluid into said steam chamber.

4. In an auxiliary steam generator for use with steam pressing irons: a hollow body havin an upper recess extending downwardly from the upper face thereof, a lower recess extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, a steam chamber between said recesses, an inlet passage for said upper recess for connection to a source of aqueous fluid, an inlet passage leading into said steam chamber, and an outlet passage leading from said steam chamber for connection to a conduit adapted to convey steam to a steam pressing iron, there being a heat conductive wall between said steam chamber and said lower recess; an electric heater in said lower recess contiguous to said heat conductive wall to heat said wall and said steam chamber, said heater having a thermostat control; a valve having its inlet connected to said upper recess; walls forming a duct connecting the outlet of said valve to the inlet passage of said steam chamber; and means controlling the rate of flow of aqueous fluid into said steam chamber.

5. In an auxiliary steam generator for use with steam pressing irons: a hollow body having an upper recess extending downwardly from the upper face thereof, a lower recess extending upwardly from the bottom thereof, a steam chamber between said recesses, an inlet passage for said upper recess for connection to a source of aqueous fluid, an inlet passage leading into said steam chamber, and an outlet passage leading from said steam chamber for connection to a conduit adapted to convey steam to a steam pressing iron, there being a heat conductive wall between said steam chamber and said lower recess; an electric heater disposed so that the heat therefrom will heat the interior of said chamber to a temperature above the boiling point of water; a valve having its inlet connected to said upper recess; walls forming a duct connecting the outlet of said valve to the inlet passage of said steam chamber; and a layer of filamentous material in said steam chamber to prevent splashing of water drops in said chamber.

6. In an auxiliary steam generator for use with steam pressing irons: a hollow body having therein a steam chamber, an inlet passage disposed above the bottom of the steam chamber for connection to a source of aqueous fluid and an outlet passage for steam disposed above the bottom of the steam chamber; an electric heater supported in such position that it will effectively heat the bottom wall of said steam chamber to a temperature above the boiling point of water; a thermostat controlling the heat production of said electric heater; and splash preventing means in said steam chamber positioned between said inlet passage and the bottom of the steam chamher, said splash preventing means comprising a plurality of small members arranged so as to provide a plurality of small openings through which steam may pass upwardly from the bottom wall of the steam chamber.

7. In an auxiliary steam generator for use with steam pressing irons: a hollow body having therein a steam chamber formed in part by a bottom wall, an inlet passage for connection to a source of aqueous fluid and an outlet passage for steam, both of said passages leading into the upper part of said steam chamber; an electric heater supported in contact with said bottom wall so that it will heat the interior of said steam chamber to a temperature above the boiling point of water; a thermostat mounted upon and controlling the heat production of said electric heater; and splash preventing means disposed horizontally between said bottom wall and said inlet passage, said splash preventing means comprising substances arranged so as to define a plurality of small openings through which steam and water may pass.

8. A device as defined in claim 6 wherein said splash preventing means comprises a mass of filamentous material disposed over said bottom Wall so as to define a plurality of small openings through which water and steam may pass.

9. In an auxiliary steam generator of the character described: a hollow body having therein a steam chamber, an inlet passage for conducting water into the steam chamber and an outlet passage for steam disposed above the bottom of the steam chamber; an electric heater supported in such position that it will directly heat the bottom wall of the steam chamber to a temperature above the boiling point of water; a thermostat controlling the flow of electric current to said electric heater; and splash preventing means in said steam chamber positioned between said bottom wall and said outlet passage, said splash preventing means comprising filamentous material arranged across the bottom wall so as to define a plurality of small openings through which steam may pass and being arranged so as to prevent splashing of water into said outlet passage when boiling of water in the steam chamber occurs.

COLLINS P. MCCRACKEN. ERNEST L. CHRISMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,276,573 Rohan Aug. 20, 1918 2 Foo Oct. 20, 1931 7 ,895 Willat Mar. 31, 1942 2,478,569 Cooper Aug. 9, 1949 

